Uttar Pradesh International Trade Expo (UPITEX 2026) to Accelerate the Development of Uttar Pradesh

The fourth edition of the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Expo (UPITEX 2026) was inaugurated at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan. This five-day festival, aimed at promoting trade, industry, MSMEs, entrepreneurship, and culture, commenced on Friday. The expo brings together policymakers, exporters, artisans, financial institutions, and entrepreneurs from across the country on a single platform.

The expo was formally inaugurated by the Hon’ble Cabinet minister; Shri Rakesh Sachan, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Khadi and Village Industries, Silk Industry, Handloom, and Textiles, Government of Uttar Pradesh. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Shri Awanish Kumar Awasthi (Retired IAS), Advisor to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh; Shri Rajesh Nigam, Co-Chair, UP State Chapter, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI); Shri Rajesh Kumar, General Manager, Lucknow Zone, Union Bank of India; Shri Pankaj Kumar, Chief General Manager, NABARD Lucknow; Shri Sanjay Tiwari, Executive Director, BNI Lucknow; Dr. Jatinder Singh, DSG, PHDCCI; Shri Atul Srivastava, Senior Regional Director, UP State Chapter, PHDCCI; and Prof. R.K. Mittal, Vice Chancellor, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University.

UPITEX 2026 is being organized by the Uttar Pradesh State Chapter of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) in collaboration with the ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) initiative and ‘Invest UP’ (Government of Uttar Pradesh), with support from the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India. With participation from more than 400 exhibitors, the expo aims to promote indigenous industries, strengthen MSMEs, improve market access, attract investment, and establish Uttar Pradesh as a leading industrial and investment destination at the national and global levels.

A special Auto Expo is also being organized as part of UPITEX 2026, showcasing the latest technologies and modern designs from the automobile sector. Visitors are also being offered the opportunity to experience on-site test drives.

The event partner of UPITEX 2026 is Radico Khaitan Limited, while the principal partner is Business Network International (BNI) Lucknow North Chapter. Union Bank of India is the event co-partner, and the pavilion partners include Rajesh Masale, Everest Food Products Private Limited, and State Bank of India (SBI). The expo is also supported by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), National Jute Board, Ministry of Textiles (Government of India), MSME Department of the Government of Madhya Pradesh, NABARD, Khadi and Village Industries Board (Government of Uttar Pradesh), and Gujarat State Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited (Garvi Gurjari – Gujarat ODOP). On this occasion, Garvi Gurjari is showcasing Gujarat’s rich handloom and handicraft heritage, while also playing a significant role in empowering artisans under the ODOP initiative and connecting them with national and inter-state markets.

The pavilion co-partners include Fena Private Limited, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), National Stock Exchange (NSE), and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). The associate partners are the Council for Leather Exports (CLE – India), Patanjali Ayurved Limited, and NTPC Limited. The F&B partner for UPITEX 2026 is Myriad.

Speaking at the inauguration, Shri Rakesh Sachan, Cabinet Minister for MSME, Uttar Pradesh, said that MSMEs play a vital role in realizing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Developed India” and in achieving Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath’s goal of a USD 1 trillion economy for Uttar Pradesh. The ODOP scheme, which originated in Uttar Pradesh in 2018, has now been adopted nationwide by the Prime Minister. Through government banks, financial support has been provided to skilled and capable youth who were unable to start businesses due to lack of funds. UPITEX is not just an exhibition, but an effort to provide exhibitors with a meaningful platform, which is commendable. Such events have helped create a positive investment environment in Uttar Pradesh. He further announced that on the occasion of UP Day, a new initiative—One District One Cuisine (ODOC)—will be launched on the lines of ODOP, which will further accelerate the development of various districts.

Dr. Jatinder Singh, DSG, PHDCCI, stated that UPITEX 2026 is not merely an exhibition, but a platform for meaningful dialogue between industry, policy, and markets. The active participation of exhibitors and buyers reflects Uttar Pradesh’s rapid emergence as a reliable hub for trade and investment.

Shri Rajesh Nigam, Co-Chair, UP State Chapter, PHDCCI, said that the objective of UPITEX is to provide new business opportunities to MSMEs, startups, and traditional industries. The positive response received on the very first day proves that the expo has become a major platform for the industry.

UPITEX 2026 has received an overwhelming response from day one, with a large number of visitors attending the expo. A significant number of queries have also been received from buyers, distributors, and industry stakeholders. Exhibitors have expressed enthusiasm over the quality of interactions and the growing interest from both domestic and international participants.